The BMC had recently begun digging GMLR to lay cables and that coupled with a large number of Congress supporters standing outside the dumping ground slowed down traffic movement in the area. As soon as Gandhi’s cavalcade arrived the traffic situations became worsened and it was only after he left that the road breathed easy. Even a portion of the SCLR had heavy traffic around 10 am.

“Usually, there are so few vehicles on this road that all the four lanes are hardly ever occupied. But today (Tuesday), there was bumper-to-bumper traffic. These politicians have troubled people on a working day during peak hours,” said Abrar Khan, a rickshaw driver.

The visitAs fire outbreaks continue at Deonar dumping ground, Rahul Gandhi’s visit is being looked at as a political step ahead of the 2017 BMC elections. Dressed in a white kurta and blue jeans, Gandhi walked for about a half kilometer inside the dumping ground. He was flanked by Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam, Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan and others.

After visiting the dump, Gandhi said, “The PM keeps talking of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan but there is a difference between words and action. The Shiv Sena-BJP coalition has been in power here (BMC) for very long. They clearly haven’t done anything. The dump has not been managed properly at all.”